Taking a Stand – Käthe Kollwitz

Käthe Kollwitz (1867-1945) and Mona Hatoum (b. 1952) are two artists whose works address social hardship and conflicts. Kollwitz's drawings, prints, and sculptures emphasize the misery and suffering of humanity, influenced by her experience of two global conflicts. Her powerful depictions of beleaguered individuals convey a sense of urgency, with the recurring theme of "never again war." Hatoum, who was born in Beirut and stranded in London during the Lebanese Civil War, creates sculptures and installations that offer a global perspective on these issues.
Curator Jonas Beyer has organized an exhibition at the Kunsthaus Zürich, featuring around 120 works by Kollwitz and five large-format works by Hatoum. Spread across two rooms covering 700 square meters, Hatoum's installations and sculptures are juxtaposed with Kollwitz's drawings, prints, and sculptures.

Kollwitz primarily expressed herself through sculpture, drawing, and printmaking, while Hatoum employs a reduced formal language, often using color sparingly. Both artists convey the human dimension in their works, with Kollwitz faithfully representing outward appearances and Hatoum utilizing scale to provide a sense of presence.
The exhibition highlights how the private is intertwined with the larger social context. Hatoum's 'Remains of the Day' suggests the aftermath of a disaster in a family home, while Kollwitz incorporated tragic events from her own life, such as the loss of her son in World War I, into her art. Despite these tragedies, both artists offer active admonitions against suffering and oppression.